Dish of the Week: Pasta Primavera

You can make this dish with any fresh vegetables you have on hand. I just happened to have some left over broccoli, cauliflower & baby carrots from a party, so that is what I used.



Creamy Pasta Primavera
1 lb uncooked pasta
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup baby carrots
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup cauliflower florets
1.5 cups cream or half & half
1 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup chopped basil
dash of freshly ground nutmeg
salt and pepper
grated parmesan cheese

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Salt generously to season pasta. Add pasta to water and cook for 2 minutes. Add carrots to pasta & water and cook for two more minutes. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet. Cook onions until tender. Add garlic and cook one more minute. Add cream, butter, a little salt & pepper, nutmeg and chopped basil to onions. Cook until heated through. To the pasta & carrots, add broccoli and cauliflower and cook for the rest of the pasta cook time (go by directions on package or until al dente). When pasta is cooked, drain pasta & veggies and toss with cream sauce. Top with parmesan.

Sorry for the picture from my phone...I didn't have my new memory card for my camera yet.

Library Picks: Pigs & Produce

Toot and Puddle - You Are My Sunshine by Holly Hobbie
While at the library recently, another mom said that if my kids like Olivia we should really check out Toot and Puddle. So check out Toot and Puddle we did. Peanut was so into the story, I was shocked that he didn't make the expected fart joke over one of the character names. Not to mention that my Hubby has yet to make the expected joke about where Toot and Puddle live (Woodcock Pocket...no seriously). But I digress. This is a very sweet story about Puddle trying to cheer up his dear friend, Toot, who is feeling blue. He tries everything he can and nothing works. Eventually a big rain storm helps little Toot feel like himself again. I love the message in this book that everyone gets sad sometimes and there isn't always a reason for it. Sometimes you just have to wait for the rain to pass. We will definitely be checking out more Toot (teehee) and Puddle.

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert
Sprout pulled this book off the shelf and it was instantly a winner in my mind. A colorfully illustrated book that teaches the alphabet AND a love of fruits and vegetables. Ka-ching! Peanut is going through an "I hate anything green" stage and Sprout, well...Sprout does with his brother does. I love that this book makes healthier foods seem fun and appealing. Instead of C being for cookie, C is for carrot, cabbage, cherries, etc. Delicious!